Hand or foot operated closure for laundry, rubbish, and like chutes



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Feb. 26, 1952 c. w. WILKINSON HAND OR FOOT OPERATED CLOSURE FOR LAUNDRY, RUBBISH, AND LIKE CHUTES Filed Oct 11, 1947 \w m Ti mm W m Llllrllllllllll llllllllll INVENTOR CLHRENCE M. WILKINSON Patented F eb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND OR FOOT OPERATED CLOSURE FOR LAUNDRY, RUBBISH, AND LIKE CHUTES Clarence M. Wilkinsn, Akron, Ohio Applioationoctober 11, 1947, Serial No. 779,342

6 Claims.

This invention relates to chute closures, and, more particularly, is concerned with hand or foot operated closure doors for laundry, rubbish, and like chutes.

Heretofore,- closure doors have been provided for laundry, rubbish, or other chutes, such doors being operated either by hand or foot. However, it has been the usual practice to use an entirely different set of mechanism and frame assembly when it is desirable to operate the closure door by foot than when the closure door is operated by hand. This means that it is necessary to stock the different mechanisms in various sizes and to plan long in advance on any job as to the particular type of closure door desired. Furthermore, it has been the usual practice to employ in association with such closure doors, spring or other means for assisting in closing the doors, the arrangement of parts ordinarily being such that in order to service the assembly, the complete frame and door mechanism must be pulled,

from the wall, which is quite an annoyance, to say nothing of being time consuming and expensive.

It is the general object of my invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other 'difiiculties of and objections to prior art structures and practices by the provision of an improved chute closure assembly which is relatively inexpensive, easily installed, readily serviced, and which can be operated by either hand or-foot.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure door for laundry and rubbish chutes, the door assembly, spring, and check mechanism being readily removable as a unit for servicing while leaving the main portion of the closure frame in its fixed position in the wall.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure door for laundry, rubbish, or like chutes, in which the simple addition of an extension frame and treadle will convert the closure from hand operated to foot operated, the extension frame and treadle being used or not on a given installation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a chute closure assembly characterized by simplicity, long life, easy installation and servicing, ready operation, inexpensiveness, and high quality.

The foregoing objects of my invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by the provision of a closure assembly for a chute, or the like, including a main frame adapted to partially surround the chute opening, a side frame associated with the main frame, a sub-frame Complet- 2 ing the surrounding of the opening, a door swingably carried by the sub-frame, a door check pivotally carried by the sub-frame and connected between the sub-frame and the door, the door check being usually positioned in the side frame, means removably securing the sub-frame to the main and side frames, whereby the entire door and door check assembly can be removed as a unit, an extension'removably secured to the side frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a foot treadle mounted in the extension, and a link connecting the foot pedal with the door. When the assembly is to be hand operated, the extension, foot treadle, and link, are omitted from the combination.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation,-partly broken away, of a typical chute closure assembly incorporating the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the chute closure assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3.-is a fragmentary front elevation, ona smaller scale, of the chute closure assembly adapted for foot operation; I

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the foot operated mechanism of Fig. 3; and v Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical, cross-sectional views, on a larger scale, taken substantially and respectively on lines VV and VI-VI of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 indicates a main frame, usually in the form of angles, thev main frame Ill extending along the top and the sides of a chute opening, the opening being diagrammatically indicated by the numeral |2 in Fig. 2. The main frame I!) at the two sides terminate just short of the bottom of the sides, as indicated by the numerals I4, andto the lower ends of the sides of the main frame ID are welded or otherwise secured bridging plates l6. 7

Associated with the main frame I0 is a' side frame It which terminates at 20 and which is provided with a bridging plate 22. The side frame I8 is adapted to receive the door return and check mechanism to be described hereinafter.

Removably associated with the main frame l0 and the side frame I8, is a sub-frame 24 which. has short, upwardly extending frame portions 25 secured thereto, the upper ends of the frame portions 26 engaging with the bridging plates l6 and.

22 and being secured thereto as by screws 28.

The sub-frame 24 rotatably supports in bear ings 3|] a shaft 32, the shaft 32 having secured thereto a closure door usually made from a pairof metal plates 34 and 35 in the manner illustrated in Figs. and 6. Angles 38 secured to the main frame I ll act as a stop or jamb against which the door closes.

Means are associated with the door for normally holding it closed, and for checking the closing movement of the door, and such means include a crank 40 secured to the shaft 32 adjacent the side frame H3. The crank 40 is pivotally connected at 42 with a link 44 having a plurality of holes 46 therein, one of the holes 46 receiving the end 48 of the piston rod of a door check 50, usually of the air type, such door check 5!] having its bottom held in a clamp 52 which is pivotally secured, as at 54, to a bracket 5% mou ted on one of the uprights 26 of the sub-frame 24.

It will be understood that the door check 58 includes a compression spring which is compressed as the door is swung outwardly and downwardly to an open position, the compression of the spring in the door check serving to automatically move the door to closed position. In known manner, the closing movement of the door is checked by the compression of the air or other fluid in the door check, usually a screw 69 being provided in association with the door check, the screw being adjustable to control the opening of an air escaoe whereby the speed of closing movement of the door can be adiusted and controlled.

From the foregoing. it will be recognized that the closure door and the door return and check mechanism is all carried on the sub-frame 24, and that it is only necessary to remove the three screws 28 in order to remove the entire door assembly from the main frame. This facilitates installation and servicing problems, and is an im ortant feature of my invention.

The main frame I 1!, side frame I3, and subframe 24, are all preferably covered with a metal trim or molding 64 which may be made substantially in the manner illustrated in the drawings, and which is releasablv secured to the frames by screws 66 extending into suitably tapped holes in the frame.

All of the frames, moldings, metal parts, and the chute itself, are preferably made from aluminum, Duralumin, stainless steel, or other corrosion and rust resisting metal, in order to obtain the most durable type of structure. For the sake of simplicity and clearness in the drawings, I have not illustrated the details of the chute proper inasmuch as the chute proner forms no part of the present invention. Suffice it to say here that the chute is secured to the main frame of the closure, either to the inside or the outside of the angle frame thereof.

Coming now to another important feature of the invention, the door of my improved closure is adapted to be operated either by hand or foot. In hand operation of the door, it is only necessary to provide a handle 'Hl thereon which can be readily gripped and pulled out and down to open the door. 0n the other hand, when it is desired to provide foot operation to open the door, I simply incorporate with the side frame l8 a downward extension l2 secured to the subframe portions 26 in the side frame area of the.

chute, and usually in the form of a pair of front angles, and a back angle 13. The angles 12 and 13 are joined together at the bottom by a bar '14 and carry a, cross brace 15 which pivotally supports at 16 a foot treadle 18. The foot treadle 18 is connected by link 80 to the pivot 42 of the crank 40. Of course, in order to incorporate the foot operating mechanism with the door assembly in the manner just described, it is necessary to provide a suitable recess in the wall for the reception of the extension 12-43, treadle l8, and link 80, the entire foot treadle extension, with the exception of the outer end of the treadle, being covered by a suitable cover plate. A cover plate will also cover the opening of the side frame l8, as will be understood.

The invention has been illustrated with the closure door hinged at the bottom. However, in certain installations it may be desirable to hinge the door from the top and this is readily accomplished in accord with the principles of the invention, usually by merely inverting the entire closure assembly.

From the foregoing, it will be recognized that the various objects of my invention have been achieved by the provision of a simple, readily installed, and easily operated chute closure assembly which can be quickly adapted to be operated either by hand or by foot. The entire closure door support, return spring, and check, can be removed as a unit leaving the main closure frame in place and secured to the chute to thereby facilitate installation or servicing.

While in accord with the patent statutes, I have specifically illustrated and described one best known embodiment of my invention, it is to be particularly understood that I am not to be limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of my invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A closure for a laundry or rubbish chute including a main frame surrounding the top and upper part of the sides of the chute opening and secured thereto, said main frame defining a plane, a sub-frame along the bottom and lower part of the sides of the chute opening and lying in the plane of the main frame, means releasably securing the sub-frame to the main frame, bearings on the sub-frame, a shaft rotatably received in the bearings, and a door secured to the shaft and engaging with the main frame and sub-frame to close the chute opening.

2. A closure assembly for a chute or the like including a main frame defining a plane and adapted to partially surround the chute opening, a sub-frame completing the surrounding of the opening and lying in the plane of the main frame, the sub-frame extending laterally of the main frame, a door swingably carried by the subframe and engaging with the main frame to close the chute opening, mechanism carried by the sub-frame for connecting to and closing the door, and means removably securing the sub-frame to the main frame whereby the entire door and door closing mechanism can be removed as a unit.

3. A closure for a laundry or rubbish chute including a main frame surrounding the top and sides of the chute opening and secured thereto, a sub-frame along the bottom of the chute opening to complete the enclosure thereof with said main frame, means releasably securing the subframe to the main frame, a shaft rotatably received in the sub-frame, a door secured to the shaft and engaging the main frame and part of the sub-frame to close the chute opening, a side frame having an open lower end associated with a side of the main frame, said sub-frame having a side portion forming a bottom portion for said side frame, a crank secured to the shaft; a link pivotally connected to the crank, and door closure means connected between the link and the sub-frame for closing the door.

4. A closure for a laundry or rubbish chute including a main frame surrounding the top and sides of the chute opening and secured thereto, a sub-frame alongthe bottom of the chute opening to complete the enclosure thereof with said main frame, means releasably securing the subframe to the main frame, a shaft rotatably received in the sub-frame, a door secured to the shaft and engaging the main frame to close the chute opening, a side frame having an open lower end associated with a side of the main frame, the sub-rame having a side portion forming a bottom portion for the side frame, mechanism for closing the door carried by the side portion of the sub-frame and connected to the shaft, a downward extension for the side frame connected to the side portion of the sub-frame, and mechanism carried by the downward extension of the side frame and connected to the shaft for opening the door.

5. A closure for a laundry or rubbish chute including a main frame surrounding the top and sides of the chute opening and secured thereto, a sub-frame along the bottom of the chute opening to complete the enclosure thereof with said main frame, means releasably securing the subframe to the main frame, a shaft rotatably received in the sub-frame, a door secured to the shaft and engaging the main frame to close the chute opening, a side frame having an open lower end associated with a side of the main frame, the sub-frame having a side portion forming a bottom portion for the side frame, a downward extension for the side frame connected to the side portion of the sub-frame, and mechanism carried by the downward extension of the side frame and. connected to the shaft for operating the door.

6. A closure for a laundry or rubbish chute including a main frame surrounding the top and upper part of the sides of the chute opening and secured thereto, said main frame defining a plane, a sub-frame along the bottom and lower part of the sides of the chute opening and lying in the plane of the main frame, means releasably securing the sub-frame to the main frame, a shaft rotatably received in the sub-frame, and a door secured to the shaft and engaging with the main frame and sub-frame to close the chute opening.

CLARENCE M. WILKINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

